Modular mausoleum crypt system

ABSTRACT

An above-ground mausoleum construction formed of a plurality of interlocking, precast, monolithic modular units forming crypts arranged in tiers, is disclosed. A single tier includes a right end, intermediate, and left end modular unit, each of which includes at least two upstanding walls, an upper horizontal portion and a rear wall, the spacing of each of the walls being uniformly predetermined so as to receive a casket therein. Each module is designed to be interfitted and sealed with nonshrinking grout with a next adjacent module forming non-aligned horizontal and vertical lap joints. In this manner, a substantially monolithic structure is obtained. Each of the upstanding side wall portions merges with the horizontal slab portion at an expanded haunch portion which is provided with anchors for supporting a removable face plate. Each crypt is readily sealed with a closure plate sealingly positioned at the open end of the crypt within recess provided along the perimeter thereof. By this construction, a highly stable, rigid, selfsupporting, interlocking structure is achieved, capable of withstanding external stresses without damage. An economically desirable system is also provided.

United States Patent [1 1 Duwe et al.

[451 May 22, 1975 MODULAR MAUSOLEUM CRYPT SYSTEM [76] Inventors: EdwardC. Duwe. 3840 Highland Shores; William E. Duwe, 1203 Washington Ave.both of Oshkosh. Wis. 5490] [22] Filed: Apr. 9, I974 211 Appl. No.:459.299

[52] US. Cl. 52/134; 52/79; 52/136; 52/236 [51] Int. Cl E04h l3/00 [58]Field of Search 52/73. 79. I34. I36. 236

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2.525.0l7 l0/l950 Cheek etal 52/l36 2.853.870 9/l958 Sinner ct al 52/509 X 3,287,865 ll/l966Lockman 52/l36 3,468.08l 9/l969 Saarinen 52/79 3.635.354 l/l972 Martin52/79 X 3.642.339 2/l972 Ruderfer 52/l34 X Primary Examiner-Alfred C.Perham Attorney. Agent, or Firm-Wigman & Cohen [5 7] ABSTRACT Anabove-ground mausoleum construction formed of a plurality ofinterlocking, precast, monolithic modular units forming crypts arrangedin tiers, is disclosed. A single tier includes a right end.intermediate, and left end modular unit. each of which includes at leasttwo upstanding walls. an upper horizontal portion and a rear wall. thespacing of each of the walls being uniformly predetermined so as toreceive a casket therein. Each module is designed to be interfitted andsealed with non-shrinking grout with a next adjacent module formingnon-aligned horizontal and vertical lap joints. ln this manner. asubstantially monolithic structure is obtained. Each of the upstandingside wall portions merges with the horizontal slab portion at anexpanded haunch portion which is provided with anchors for supporting aremovable face plate. Each crypt is readily sealed with a closure platesealingly positioned at the open end of the crypt within recess providedalong the perimeter thereof. By this construction, a highly stable.rigid. self-supporting. interlocking structure is achieved, capable ofwithstanding external stresses without damage. An economically desirablesystem is also provided.

9 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures MODULAR MAUSOLEUM CRYPT SYSTEM BACKGROUND OFTHE INVENTION l. Field of the Invention This invention relates to animproved. above-ground. multi-level mausoleum construction. Moreparticularly. the invention relates to a mausoleum constructioncomprising a plurality of tiered. interlocking. pre cast modules. which,when assembled. yields a substantially monolithic structure withimproved stability and rigidity characteristics and which is capable ofwithstanding external forces without damage.

2. Description of the Prior Art In recent years there has beenincreasing emphasis placed on the efficient utilization ofland.especially for burial purposes. in areas where the population growth hasbeen significant. One particular pressing problem which has receivedattention for at least the past two decades is the use of above-groundmausoleums. similar in concept to highrise apartments. The advantages ofabove-ground. multi-level mausoleums are readily seen since this conceptpermits a more efficient utilization of land and has the added advantageof permitting visitors to be indoors while paying respects to thedeceased. where lobby-like facilities are provided.

Heretofore. a variety of construction techniques have been employed toconstruct multi-level. above-ground mausoleums. One such techniqueutilizes the pouredin-place" technique used in apartment construction.Thus. concrete is poured in forms on the site. level by level. until theentire structure is completed. In this manner. a multi-story mausoleumcan be fabricated according to design. This approach yields a highlysatisfactory product but is economically undesirable-by virtue of theslot and relatively expensive fabrication technique employed.

In an effort to reduce costs. attempts have been made to utilize precastsections for one or more portions of the mausoleum structure. One suchapproach is described in U.S. Pat. No. 2.525.017 (issued on Oct. 20.1950) which describes a mausoleum formed of precast sections comprisinga unitary open-ended crypt unit which can apparently be positioned inspaced relationship. the space between units forming another cavitywhich can also be separately enclosed. Although the precast units aregenerally rigid. nevertheless the cavity portions between the precastunits require an undue amount of effort to ready them for crypt use.More over. the assembled structure described in U.S. Pat. No. 2.525.017does not possess the required rigidity and stability necessary to resistexternal forces.

Another technique which utilizes precast sections for mausoleumconstruction is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3.287.865 (issued on Nov. 29.1966). Here a tiered structure made of abutting precast sections isdescribed. On its face. this construction appears to avoid thedifficulties noted in U.S. Pat. No. 2.525.0l7. However. a carefulanalysis of this construction reveals that the horizontal and verticaljoints formed by the abutting walls of adjacent sections are in analigned orientation. Since the alignment plane is vertical. extendingfrom the lowermost tier to the uppermost tier. it is clear that thisrepresents a cleavage plane which can cause serious problems whensubjected to external stress. Moreover. the alignment plane issubstantially equidistant between adjacent vertical walls, and thereforehas little. if any. underlying support.

Up until the present invention. there still existed a need for animproved mausoleum construction combining the structural qualities ofthe poured-in-place construction with the desirable attributes ofprecast sections.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of thepresent invention to provide a mausoleum construction which issubstantially comparable in performance to poured-in-place constructionbut without the associated drawback of high cost and lengthyconstruction time.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an improvedmausoleum construction. of the char acter aforementioned. comprisingprecast concrete modules adapted to horizontally and verticallyinterlock with one another when placed in side-byside relationship. toform a substantially monolithic structure capable of resisting externalstresses without cracking and the like.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide animproved mausoleum construction. of the character aforementioned.wherein the precast modules are provided with upright side walls mergingat their upper portion at a horizontal slab. and at their rear wallportion at a rear wall, the front and bottom portions of the modulebeing open permitting internesting during transport thereof.

These and other objects are accomplished by providing a mausoleumconstruction comprising a plurality of tiered crypts formed frommodular. monolithic. precast concrete modules. each of the tiersincluding a left end. intermediate. and right end module. positioned inhorizontal side-by-side abutting relationship with next adjacentsections. and interlocking with one another to form unitary structure.after assembly. The intermediate modular section includes an upper.horizontally disposed slab. a pair of spaced vertical or upstanding sidewalls having respective longitudinal axes and depending from thehorizontal slab. and a rear wall. The spacing between the upstandingside walls is of a predetermined width. preferably uniform. to form acrypt cavity. The horizontal slab includes one edge terminating adjacentone of the upstanding side walls forming a ledge therein, and anopposite edge projecting beyond the longitudinal axis of the nextadjacent upstanding side wall for a predetermined distance. incantilevered fashion. A rear wall is provided which extendssubstantially from the longitudinal axis of one of the vertical walls tobeyond the free edge of the cantilevered horizontal slab portion. Ledgesare provided in the next adjacent module for receiving the free edges ofboth the cantilevered portions of the horizontal slab and the projectingportions of the rear wall for interlocking purposes.

For reasons which become more apparent hereinafter. it should beemphasized that the inventive concepts ofthe improved mausoleumconstruction of the present invention do not reside in the particularnumber of tiers and/or crypts. as illustrated in the drawing. but can bevaried to accommodate the number of crypts desired for any particularinstallation. Moreover. although each tier is illustrated to beidentical with respect to the modular unit employed therein. whencompared to the remaining tiers. this arrangement can also be variedsuch that left and right end modular units of adjacent tiers can bedifferent to further displace the nonaligned horizontal and verticaljoints formed by the interloclting modules. In other words. in one tier.the left end modular unit can include a single crypt. whereas in theoverlying tier. the left end modular section can be larger. e.g.. twocrypts. this arrangement being repeated. depending on the number oftiers provided. A similar alternating arrangement can be provided at theright end modular section of each tier. This nonsymmetrical constructionprovides additional structural rigidity and stability for only a slightincrease in overall erection expense.

lt shoud also be mentioned that each of the upstanding side and rearwalls of each modular unit tapers downwardly so as to be received andgrouted in grooves provided in the upper surface of the modular unitpositioned in the tier directly below. Each modular unit is in a securedposition during assembly to effect proper alignment of the sections. Anon-shrinking grout is employed to form fluid-tight joints forinterengaging units.

From the aforementioned. and the description which follows. it willbecome apparent that the mausoleum construction of the present inventionoffers considerable structural and cost advantages over priortechniques. When completed. the mausoleum construction of the presentinvention is a substantially monolithic structure which isself-supporting. No additional supporting walls are required. furtherreducing construction costs. Construction versatility is another featureof the present invention, with as few as three crypts to twenty thousandor more crypts per installation. erected. The precast concrete modularunits can be readily fabricated in a plant under carefully controlledconditions and shipped to the construction site for assembly. using aminimum of skilled labor. structurally. the mausoleum construction ofthe present invention has a high degree of stability by virtue ofnon-aligned. interlocking lap joints. It has been demonstrated that themausoleum construction of the present invention is capable ofwithstanding external forces, e.g.. high wind loadings. climaticchanges. and the like, without damage to its fluid-tight joints. By suchimproved construction the egress of odors emanating from within thecrypt. as well as the entry of rain water and the like. is precluded.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a pictorial representationof an illustrative embodiment ofa mausoleum construction according tothe present invention. with portions removed to show certain internalfeatures.

FIG. 2 is a pictorial representation of a modular unit in interlockingrelationship with a next adjacent modular unit shown in phantom. withparticular emphasis on the horizontally and vertically disposed lapjoints at the abutting upper and rear walls.

FIG. 3 is a pictorial illustration. in exploded view. of the preferredmodular units employed in forming a single tier of the mausoleumconstruction of the present invention. with alternative right endmodular units being shown.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to thedrawings wherein like numerals indicate like elements throughout theseveral views. there is shown an above-ground or garden-type mausoleumconstruction according to the present invention. The mausoleumconstruction of the present invention. as shown in perspective in FIG.I, is a four tier structure. each tier represented by the symbols I. II.III and IV. from bottom to top. respectively. The four tier mausoleum issupported by a concrete base 10. Each of the tiers. l-IV. includes aplurality of assembled precast modular units. preferably of reinforcedconcrete. permanently bonded to each other by cement to form a unitarystructure. For purposes ofclarity. the precast modular units employedfor one or more crypts are best seen in the exploded view of FIG. 3where the letters A. B. C. D are used for each different type of unit.These modular units are exemplary of the inventive concepts describedherein. and can be readily modified to expand or reduce the number ofcrypts per tier. In FIG. 3, module A is a left end unit. module B anintermediate or central unit. modules C and D are alternative right endunits. Generally. each tier includes. in side-by-side relation, at leasta left end modular unit A. an intermediate modular unit B. and eitherright end modular unit C or D. depending on whether an odd or evennumber of crypts per tier are desired.

Again. for purposes of clarity. only the intermediate modular unit Bwill be fully described, it being understood that the other modularunits include substantially identical features. except where otherwisenoted. As best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, the intermediate modular unit Bincludes a pair of spaced. upstanding side walls 11. 12. the spacingbetween the side walls being of predetermined width. to form a cryptcavity 13. Modular unit B further includes an upper. horizontallydisposed slab 14 which is integrally formed with side walls 11 and 12.The upper slab 14 extends laterally beyond the side wall 11 incantilevered fashion with the cantilevered portion being identified asI5, and terminates at a free edge 16. In the exploded view. FIG. 3.either of the right end modular units C or D can be used. as representedby the broken arrows. depending on whether an odd or even number ofcrypts per tier is desired. In either case. a ledge 17 is provided onmodular units C and D to receive the cantilevered slab portion 15forming a lap joint I8 having horizontal and vertical components 18a.18b. respectively.

Intermediate modular unit B also is provided with an integrally formedrear wall 20 which extends laterally from the longitudinal axis of theside wall 12 to beyond the free edge I6 of the cantilevered portion I5of the horizontal slab 14 covering cavity 13 and cavity 13' andterminates at a free edge 21. Rear wall 20 extends vertically from thebottom of the side walls II and 12 to the top surface 22 of the upperslabs l4 and 15. The rear wall free edge 21 forms a lap joint 24 withthe vertically extending ledge 25 (see FIG. 2) formed in the rear wallportion of the next adjacent right end modular units C and D. The lapjoint 24 has a transverse and vertical component 24a. 24b. respectively.which provides interlocking means for the portion of the rear wallextending beyond the terminal edge 16 of the upper slab I4. Theinterlocking distance is shown in FIG. 2 as X and is equal to thedistance between the terminal edge 16 of the upper slab I4 and thelongitudinal axis of side wall 12. Although not shown. the intermediatemodular unit B also includes a similar ledge 25 at its rear wall 20running vertically from the longitudinal axis of the upstanding wall 12to the left for receiving the projecting rear wall portion 21 of leftend modular unit A therein.

An important feature of the present invention resides in the fact thatthe horizontally disposed lap joint 18 between abutting horizontal slabs22. and the vertically disposed lap joints 24 between adjacent rearwalls are in non-aligned orientation in three planes. By such aconstruction, cracks which may appear along any of the joints areisolated and will not be transmitted to the other joints due to thediscontinuous nature of the various joints involved.

The side walls ll. 12 are generally tapered with their lowermost portionbeing narrower than the intermediate portion 30 or their enlargedportion or haunch 3!. The haunch 31 is integrally formed with the upperslab l4 and includes anchor means (not shown) for securing brackets 32(see FIG. 2) for reasons which will become more apparent hereinafter.The enlarged portion or haunch 31 of the side walls 11. 12 provides thenecessary support for the cantilevered portion of the next adjacentupper slab 14. Additionally. haunch 31 provides the necessary mass toreceive and hold anchor bolts therein. Each of the end portions ofmodular units A. C. D includes an outermost side wall ll. which does notinclude ledges 17. therein. Moreover. since side wall ll issubstantially planar and constitutes the outer wall of the assembledmausoleum. it can be left unfinished or can be finished with anappropriate decorative facing material 35. as shown in FIG. I.

The upper slab M of modular unit B includes grooves 36 formed along thefront and rear edges of the slab l4, and extending adjacent the freeedge l6 of cantilevered portion 15. Essentially. the groove 36 is of awidth and spacing so as to securingly receive the side walls ll, 12 ofsuperposed modular unit B to form a next tier. Preferably. each of therear walls 20 is tapered similarly to the side walls ll, 12 to fit thegroove 36. Similar grooves are also provided in the base 10 to secureside and rear walls of the first tier l of modular units A-C or D.

In FlG. l the assembly is shown with crypts 13 both in open and sealedcondition. For sealing purposes each crypt is formed with a recess 40 atits entry. extending the entire perimeter, including the top surface ofthe crypt directly below. A sealing or closure plate 4], preferably ofan asbestos-cementitious material. e.g.. Transite (a product of.lohns-Manville Company, Mansville. NJ.) is fitted within the recess 40after a casket is placed in the crypt 13, thereby completing theentombment of the deceased. Any conventionally known suitable sealantcan be employed for this purpose.

A conventional cover or face plate 42, such as marble or the like, isgenerally positioned in front of each crypt by means of the brackets 32to identify the entombed deceased. Although only pairs of brackets 32are shown in the drawing, it will be apparent that any suitable coverplate bracket can be employed. as for example, as described in U.S Pat.Nos. 2.853.870. 2,6l8.l45. and others.

Ventilation means (not shown) can also be provided to exhaust odorswhich emanate from each sealed crypt through opening 43 optionallyprovided at the rear wall of each crypt. A plenum chamber would beprovided to communicate with openings in each crypt whereby odors couldbe drawn out to be externally vented.

To assemble the modular mausoleum crypt system according to the presentinvention, a concrete base 10 is initially provided with appropriatefootings. only partially shown in FIG. I. Thereafter. the assembly ofprecast modular units begins. preferably with the initial positioning ofright end unit C or D with grooves provided in the base 10. Each of themodular units is capable of being lifted by a crane by hooks temporarilyaffixed to the modular unit. Before the precast unit is positioned. acementitious. settable grout is dispensed within the grooves which.after setting. permanently seals the precast unit to its underlyingsupport base 10. After modular unit C or D is positioned. one or moreintermediate modular units B is brought into abutting interlockingposition with modular unit C or D. Prior to positioning each of themodular units. the grouting composition is dispensed within the ledgesl7 and 25 to insure a properly sealed joint. The left end modular unit Ais thereafter placed in interlocking abutting position with respect toalready positioned intermediate unit B to complete tier l. The processis repeated for each of the next three tiers. or more if necessary.until the structure is finished. The finishing roof. and a suit ablefacing material 35 is then applied to complete the structure. In someinstallations. the crypts cover plates confront an enclosed lobby wherevisitors can gather.

One suitable grout formulation useful for effecting fluid-tight jointsincludes a cement glue admixed with approximately pounds of cement. 200pounds of sand. and a sufficient quantity of water to provide acceptableand well known workability. The cement glue can be an organic glue.e.g.. CRYSTAL CEMENT GLUE. manufactured by Wurdack Chemical Company.4977 Fyler Avenue, St. Louis. Mo.

It should be appreciated that the present invention is not to beconstrued as being limited by the illustrative embodiments. It ispossible to introduce other embodiments without departing from theinventive concepts herein disclosed. Such embodiments are within theability of one skilled in the art.

It is claimed:

1. A modular mausoleum crypt system comprising one or more tiers ofcrypts, each tier including at least two precast monolithic modularstructures:

A. a first modules including I. an upper, horizontally disposed slab;

2. a pair of spaced side walls having respective longitudinal axes anddepending from said upper slab. the spacing between said side wallsbeing of a predetermined width to receive a casket therein;

3. said upper slab extending laterally from about the longitudinal axisof one of said side walls to beyond the longitudinal axis of another ofsaid side walls for a predetermined distance in cantilevered fashion andterminating at a free edge;

4. a rear wall extending substantially from about the longitudinal axisof said one of said side walls to beyind said free cantilevered edge ofsaid upper slab. the rear wall portion extending beyond said freecantilevered edge forming a rear wall projecting portion; and

5. said cantilevered and projecting portions of said upper slab and rearwall adapted to be received in ledges formed in a next adajcent precastmodular unit to form respective lap joints.

B. a next adjacent module including ledges for receiving saidcantilevered and projecting portions of the upper slab and rear wall ofsaid first named module.

2. The system according to claim 1 wherein each tier includes a rightend, intermediate. and left end module. each module being interlockedwith the next adjacent module.

3. The system according to claim 2 wherein said intermediate moduleincludes features l through (5) as recited in claim 1, and furtherincludes a first horizontal ledge provided at one end of said upper slabextending laterally the length of said upper slab. and a second ledgeprovided at one end of said rear wall adjacent to the longitudinal axisof said side wall and extending vertically the height of said rear wall.

4. The system according to claim 1 wherein each of said side wallsincludes an enlarged portion of its upper end extending transverselytowards said rear wall for securingly receiving anchor bolts therein.

5. The system according to claim 1 wherein each of said side wallstapers downwardly to a wall thickness less than the width of groovemeans provided in a module positioned therebelow.

6. The system according to claim 4 wherein said horizontal ledge in saidupper slab is bounded by the enlarged portion of said side wall and oneend of said upper slab, said cantilevered portion of said next adjacentmodule being supported directly by said ledge of said enlarged portionof said upper slab.

7. The system according to claim 4 wherein said side walls include ananchor embedded in said enlarged portion. and a bracket secured to saidanchor for removably positioning a cover plate at a predetermineddistance from said crypt opening.

8. The system according to claim 1 including a base support havinggroove means for receiving a first tier therein.

9. The system according to claim I wherein each crypt includes a recessadjacent the opening and extending the perimeter thereof to receive asealing plate. i i i

1. A modular mausoleum crypt system comprising one or more tiers ofcrypts, each tier including at least two precast monolithic modularstructures: A. a first modules including
 1. an upper, horizontallydisposed slab;
 1. A modular mausoleum crypt system comprising one ormore tiers of crypts, each tier including at least two precastmonolithic modular structures: A. a first modules including
 1. an upper,horizontally disposed slab;
 2. a pair of spaced side walls havingrespective longitudinal axes and depending from said upper slab, thespacing between said side walls being of a predetermined width toreceive a casket therein;
 3. said upper slab extending laterally fromabout the longitudinal axis of one of said side walls to beyond thelongitudinal axis of another of said side walls for a predetermineddistance in cantilevered fashion and terminating at a free edge;
 4. arear wall extending substantially from about the longitudinal axis ofsaid one of said side walls to beyind said free cantilevered edge ofsaid upper slab, the rear wall portion extending beyond said freecantilevered edge forming a rear wall projecting portion; and
 5. saidcantilevered and projecting portions of said upper slab and rear walladapted to be received in ledges formed in a next adajcent precastmodular unit to form respective lap joints; B. a next adjacent moduleincluding ledges for receiving said cantilevered and projecting portionsof the upper slab and rear wall of said first named module.
 2. a pair ofspaced side walls having respective longitudinal axes and depending fromsaid upper slab, the spacing between said side walls being of apredetermined width to receive a casket therein;
 2. The system accordingto claim 1 wherein each tier includes a right end, intermediate, andleft end module, each module being interlocked with the next adjacentmodule.
 3. The system according to claim 2 wherein said intermediatemodule includes features (1) through (5) as recited in claim 1, andfurther includes a first horizontal ledge provided at one end of saidupper slab extending laterally the length of said upper slab, and asecond ledge provided at one end of said rear wall adjacent to thelongitudinal axis of said side wall and extending vertically the heightof said rear wall.
 3. said upper slab extending laterally from about thelongitudinal axis of one of said side walls to beyond the longitudinalaxis of another of said side walls for a predetermined distance incantilevered fashion and terminating at a free edge;
 4. a rear wallextending substantially from about the longitudinal axis of said one ofsaid side walls to beyind said free cantilevered edge of said upperslab, the rear wall portion extending beyond said free cantilevered edgeforming a rear wall projecting portion; and
 4. The system according toclaim 1 wherein each of said side walls includes an enlarged portion ofits upper end extending transversely towards said rear wall forsecuringly receiving anchor bolts therein.
 5. said cantilevered andprojecting portions of said upper slab and rear wall adapted to bereceived in ledges formed in a next adajcent precast modular unit toform respective lap joints; B. a next adjacent module including ledgesfor receiving said cantilevered and projecting portions of the upperslab and rear wall of said first named module.
 5. The system accordingto claim 1 wherein each of said side walls tapers downwardly to a wallthickness less than the width of groove means provided in a modulepositioned therebelow.
 6. The system according to claim 4 wherein saidhorizontal ledge in said upper slab is bounded by the enlarged portionof said side wall and one end of said upper slab, said cantileveredportion of said next adjacent module being supported directly by saidledge of said enlarged portion of said upper slab.
 7. The systemaccording to claim 4 wherein said side walls include an anchor embeddedin said enlarged portion, and a bracket secured to said anchor forremovablY positioning a cover plate at a predetermined distance fromsaid crypt opening.
 8. The system according to claim 1 including a basesupport having groove means for receiving a first tier therein.